Tuning device for musical instruments



1957 F. J. BUSHNELL 2,802,387

" TUNING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed May 28, 1956 United States PatentO TUNING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Frederick J. Bushnell, Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada Application May 28, 1956, Serial No. 587,861

4 Claims. (Cl. 84386) This invention relates to reed instruments, and more particularly to tuning means therefor.

The standard reed instrument, such as. a clarinet, comprises a plurality of separable sections, usually consisting of a mouth piece or reed section, a plurality of barrel sections, and a bell section. The sections fit into one another, each section having a reduced diameter portion which fits into a socket in the adjacent section. The instrument is so constructed that its normal pitch is obtained when the sections are fitted tightly one against the other. A lower than normal pitch may be obtained on the standard instrument by lengthening the air column between the reed and the holes in the instrument by moving the reed section outwardly from the first barrel section. The length of the reduced diameter portion of the reed section governs the amount the pitch of the instrument may be lowered since sufficient frictional engagement with the adjoining section must always be provided to maintain the instrument in satisfactorily assembled form.

Moreover, partial Withdrawal of the reed section relatively to the first barrel section leaves an air pocket which has an undesirable effect on the tone of the instrument.

The standard reed instrument, such as a clarinet, therefore, is not adapted for fully adequate tuning. A pitch higher or sharper than normal pitch cannot be obtained. The pitch can be lowered only to a small degree and with an incompletely satisfactory effect on the tone of the instruinent.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tuning means for a reed instrument of standard size and shape whereby the pitch of the instrument can be raised and lowered to a greater degree than has heretofore been possible without undesirably affecting the tone thereof.

The invention contemplates the provision of a tuning section for a reed instrument having a reed section and a barrel section having a bore, said tuning section having a socket at one end for reception of said reed section and a tapered bore arranged for communication with the bore in said barrel section, the large diameter end of said tapered bore adjoining said socket.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a clarinet in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 22 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, 1 is a conventional mouthpiece or reed section, 2 a tuning section in accordance with the invention, 3 a first barrel section, and 4 a second barrel section.

The tuning section 2 is of generally tubular form and has a large diameter socket 5 at one end to receive the reduced diameter portion 6 of the reed section 1, and a tapered bore 7. The large diameter end of the bore 7 adjoins socket 5 and has a diameter approximately equal to that of the bore 8 in reed section 1. Extending from the other end of the tuning section is a thin walled tubular extension 9. The bore of extension 9 is of constant diameter approximately equal to that of the small diameter end of tapered bore 7 which it adjoins. The external surface 11 of tuning section 2 surrounding the tapered bore 7 is of constant diameter and terminates at one end in a shoulder 12 extending to the thin walled extension 9 and at its other end in a rib 13 (which is preferably knurled as shown) adjoining the reed section.

The first barrel section 3 has a bore, a minor portion of which constitutes a socket 14 of small diameter and a major portion 15 of which is of larger diameter to telescopically receive the tuning section 2 with its surface 11 in engagement with the wall of bore portion 15. A set screw 16 carried by section 3 is provided to lock tuning section 2 in selected position with respect to barrel section 3 and to provide desired telescopic adjustment. Socket 14, as shown, is arranged to receive the reduced diameter end portion 17 of barrel section 4. It will be observed that, as shown in Figure 1, with the parts in assembled relation, the projecting end of tubular extension 9 extends into underlapping engagement with the wall 18 of the bore in section 4. Barrel section 3 is also preferably provided with a knurled rib 19.

While the dimensions of the tuning section 2 may vary, the following are illustrative of a satisfactory tuning section for use in a standard clarinet:

Inches Length of tapered bore 7 Diameter of bore 7 at large end .590 Diameter of bore 7 at small end .550

Diameter of surface 11 1.002

External diameter of extension 9 .580 Length of extension 9 1% Overall length of tuning section 2 2 In operation, the tapered bore 7 has the effect of sharpening the pitch of the instrument. Therefore, normal pitch is obtained by drawing tuning section 2 out of barrel section 3 to approximately the position shown in Figure 1 to lengthen the air column in the instrument. The pitch may be lowered by further withdrawing tuning section 2 from section 3. The thin-Walled extension 9 seals the air pocket 20 left in barrel section 3 when the tuning section is Withdrawn and thus the tuning has no undesirable effect on the tone of the instrument.

The pitch may be raised by moving the tuning section 2 inwardly with respect to barrel section 3. The tuning range is dependent upon substantially the entire length of section 2 from shoulder 12 to the end thereof since extension 9 in association with locking screw 16 will maintain locking engagement of the sections throughout a substantially maximum range of telescopic adjustment.

It will thus be apparent that a greatly extended tuning range is obtained by employment of the tuning section of the present invention.

The knurled ribs 13 and 19 are useful in adjusting barrel length.

It will be apparent that the various sockets and mating surfaces may be lined with cork or the like to ensure a tight sealed fit.

I claim:

1. In a reed instrument having a reed section and a barrel section having a bore, a tuning section arranged for adjustable telescopic reception in said barrel section, said tuning section having a socket at one end thereof for reception of said reed section and a tapered bore arranged for communication with the bore in said barrel section, the large diameter end of said tapered bore adjoining said socket.

2. A tuning section for a reed instrument as defined in claim 1, including a tubular extension of constant diameter projecting from the other end of said tuning section, the interior diameter of said extension being substantially equal to that of the small diameter end of said tapered bore.

3. A tuning section for a reed instrument as defined in claim 1, said tapered borehaving a length of approximately one inch and a diameter varying from approximately .590 to .550 inch.

4. .A clarinet having a reed section, first and second barrel sections, each having a,bore therein,,and a.tubu lar tuning section having a socket at one end for reception of said reed section, and a tapered bore having its large diameter end adjoining said socket, said first barrel section telescopically receiving, through one end thereof, said tuning section for longitudinal adjustment with respect thereto, said first barrel section having a socket at its other end for reception of said second barrel section, said tuning section having a tubular extension projecting from the other end thereof and extending into the bore in said second barrel section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 259,513 Ellis et al June 13, 1882 463,084 Van Allen Nov. 10, 1891 1,171,647 Reynolds Feb. 15, 1916 1,365,860 Sinclair Jan. 18, 1921 1,870,211 Smith Aug. 2, 1932 

